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Original Document - http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=style&sc=life&sc2=features&sc3=&id=3897

Today I had the best massage of my life, and it reminded me how important it is to my health and sanity. If you’ve never had a massage, you should do it now (well, wait until you’re done reading this). If you’ve had a massage before but it’s been a while, you should definitely go again. And if you live in Boston, you should call Mr. Michael Moore at Moore Massage because he f*#king rocks.

First of all, let’s get one thing clear boys- because I know you’re thinking about it. How should I put this? After getting a massage from Michael, you’ll leave happy but you won’t get a happy ending. Mr. Moore’s a professional, and while I’d certainly kill to have him (or someone like him) sleeping next to me every night (can you imagine the benefits? It would be like living in a fairy tale!), Moore Massage is not that kind of establishment. (If you’re looking for that kind of massage- and by all means, go for it- try Craigslist under "Erotic Services.")

Having said that, Michael is extremely charming and handsome, and as we all know, that’s very important. More than that however, he’s extremely strong with incredible hands and knows exactly what he’s doing. His touch is powerful but he’s very conscious of the amount of pressure he applies, adjusting it based on the area he’s working on and using just enough to get rid of pain, tension, tight spots, and the like without making you feel like you’ve been put through the ringer- unless you want to feel that way.

Massage is beneficial for a million reasons, and effective in treating or helping a wide array of "issues." From decreasing muscle pain, increasing flexibility (and we all know how good it is to be flexible!), and reducing stress, blood pressure and tension, to easing the pain and stiffness of longstanding injuries, massage is pretty much fabulous. Specific types of massage can also do things like bring more oxygen to the skin, drain lymph nodes, increase energy, and more. For me, massage helps me stay limber for one of my favorite physical activities and pastimes... yoga!

Aside from all this, getting a massage means you get a nice chunk of time to relax, let go of daily stress and retreat within yourself- if only for an hour- to reconnect and unwind. If I had to give up massage, I don’t think I’d be a very nice person to be around, let’s just put it that way. Another benefit of massage lies in the simple power of touch. Even if you’ve got a great bf/gf/partner/lover/whatever and a fabulous sex life, there’s something extremely powerful and soothing that results from human touch and the ability it has to connect people in an intimate (albeit non-sexual) way. I won’t get all new-age/spiritual/Kabbalah on you, but if you haven’t experienced it, you should.

Something that I found set Michael apart from other massage therapists (aside from his "hands from heaven") was the fact that he lives in the 21st Century, which I appreciate. While other therapists may have a (usually tacky, dated, cookie-cutter Microsoft template) website with a link to email them, Moore Massage actually offers the ability to book- and prepay- online, making it that much easier and faster while also helping to avoid the sometimes awkward "how-to-pass-the-cash" moment.

So, enough of my ranting- unfortunately I can’t yet recommend a massage therapist in every town and city, including Mr. Michael Moore, my new bi-weekly addiction! (And if you’re a CMT in an EDGE city- by all means- let me know. I’d love to try you out and if you’re good, I’m happy to spread the word!)

There are a lot of great websites out there for finding massage therapists, including Craigslist (under "Services/Therapeutic"). A simple Google search of "massage" and your city will also turn up dozens of individuals’ sites as well as sponsored sites advertising therapists in that area. If you’re looking for a genuine therapeutic massage by a licensed professional, make sure that they are a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) offering therapeutic massage and not just a "rub-down."

For those of you fortunate enough to live in the Boston area, you can reach Michael Morre through his website- www.MooreMassage.com - or by calling him at 800.495.1850.